Barbarian invasions forced the Lacedemonians of the surrounding area to seek refuge in the natural fortress of the rock of Monemvasia and this is how it made its first apprearance in history, in the 6th century.

Byzantines, Francs, Venetians, Turks and modern Greeks were at different times masters of the unconquerable castle which is considered a monument to the art of fortress construction of the middle ages.